News

May graduates Tony and Wanda Reynolds, who are married, leaned on each other as they pursued matching undergraduate degrees from VCU. (Sian Wilkerson, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Class of 2026: Tony and Wanda Reynolds pursued their degrees side by side

April 30, 2026

The couple, who have been married for more than 30 years, entered school together. Now aged 65 and 58, they will graduate with their psychology degrees.

Samantha Castro Teixeira, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in psychology at VCU, is researching psychological interventions for chronic pain. (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

World@VCU: Samantha Castro Teixeira from Brazil

April 29, 2026

‘I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how warm and welcoming people are, not only in Richmond but especially within the pain research community.’

An analysis of 16 studies found that the scientific literature does not support claims that 60-90% of youth identifying as transgender ultimately desist from that identity. (Getty Images)

Common claim that most transgender youth renounce that identity is not supported by statistics, VCU research finds

April 27, 2026

The argument that studies show transgender youth desist from that identity on average has been used to support anti-gender-affirming care legislation nationwide.

Five questions with philosophy and psychology double major Sterling DeMascio

April 22, 2026

The Colorado Summer Seminar in Philosophy is one of the top seminars in the country and only offers 20 spots each summer. Sterling DeMascio earned one of them.

VCU students shared their research with some of the thousands of attendees at this week’s National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Richmond. (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Meet seven of the nearly 500 VCU students who presented their research this week at a prestigious conference

April 16, 2026

Undergrads from a range of disciplines explain their research, what attracted them to it and what participating in the National Conference on Undergraduate Research meant to them.

VCU School of the Arts is ranked No. 2 in the nation among graduate schools

April 7, 2026

U.S. News & World Report includes 18 VCU programs in the top 50 of its new rankings.

Naaima Zaharah, a psychology major, has learned to “appreciate the intellectual complexity of research and the collaborative nature of scientific discovery” while at VCU. (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

How I found my research: Naaima Zaharah examines genetic vulnerabilities in alcohol use disorder

March 27, 2026

The psychology major said that research is ‘an incredibly rewarding experience that allows you to explore questions you genuinely care about.’

Amaria Ford “has consistently demonstrated outstanding dedication, initiative and excellence. She excels at every task she does,” according to a faculty mentor. (Contributed image)

Class of 2026: Amaria Ford connects biology, psychology and youth development

March 24, 2026

She has been a standout in undergraduate research, supporting the Empower Youth Lab led by Chelsea Williams.

2026 Oscar Reviews: 'Sentimental Value'

March 10, 2026

On March 15, the 98th Academy Awards will showcase the best – and most talked-about – films of the year. Ahead of Hollywood’s biggest night, some VCU professors shared their thoughts on films that aligned with their area of expertise and will be in contention in a variety of categories.

Abigail Adade, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, said the mentorship and training she has received at VCU has deepened her commitment to culturally responsive mental health research and helped her grow as a scholar and a practitioner. (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

World@VCU: Abigail Adade from Ghana

March 9, 2026

‘I was drawn to VCU’s commitment to community-engaged research and its support for diverse student populations.’

Department of Psychology

College of Humanities and Sciences